The team

Science Café Wageningen is an initiative of Wageningen UR employees and students. The current organizing team consists of :

Anne Mensink (Manager International Relations at Food Valley NL)

Science Cafe Wageningen inspires me by challenging presentations and discussions, often on the interface between various scientific disciplines and/or social issues. I consider food-, health- and celbiology topics to be my expertise; however, there is so much more to discover!

Dolf Weijers (professor Biochemistry)

Ever since the start of Science Cafe Wageningen, I have wanted to bring great science into the realm of leisure and fun. I always knew Wageningen boast many critical minds that are excited about science in its full diversity. At Science Cafe Wageningen, these minds have a place to meet, to discuss with top scientists, and to enjoy the colloquial atmosphere of a pub with live music.

Gerlinde de Deyn (associate professor Soil Quality)

To me a vivid scientific community is the most important thing to make me feel at home and inspired wherever science (mostly in the realm of ecology) brings me across the globe. My main reason to join the Science Café Wageningen team is to contribute to the inspiring and fun atmosphere in Wageningen in which students, scientists and the general public can meet, and from which I learn a lot too.

Jochem Jonkman (PhD student Social Sciences)

What I like about Science Café is that it brings science to the pleasant atmosphere of a pub with live music, accessible to anyone interested (no tuition fees or expensive subscription to journals required). I am happy to be part of the Science Café because it makes science accessible and because it features such an interesting range of topics.

Karin Schroën (Personal Professor Food Process Engineering)

The science cafe team is a bunch of super enthusiastic scientists from various fields that join forces to bring science to a broad audience in a pleasant and stimulating atmosphere. It is a pleasure to be part of this, and see how much people get out of listening to, and discussing with our top notch guest presenters. This really broadens everyone’s field of view, and is simply great fun due to the informal settings of being in a cafe.

Margo Smit (PhD student Biochemistry)

While we all have our specific field of study, our passion, we should never be satisfied with learning about only one topic. I believe there is an incredible amount of very cool and important knowledge and insight out there, and it would be shame to not share it. By joining the Science Cafe team I hope to contribute to this sharing process and to be part of discussing the amazing things going on everywhere.

Neli Prota (Knowledge broker)

I see a gap between the science and the end users of that science and I want to bridge it. I am passionate about green living, sustainable practices, healthy lifestyle, learning from nature, parenting and personal development. I have a background as a molecular biologist with a PhD in natural crop protection, but
more than working in a lab, I want to provide service to society by using my natural propensity at communicating, teaching, influencing and motivating others, for a better world. The Science café allows me to learn about new things and it is a way to bring the current knowledge to the end users. As a team member, my main responsibility is the graphic design of the promotion material and I’ll occasionally take photos during the events.

Nico Claassens (PhD student Microbiology)

The relation between science and society keeps on intriguing me, their relation is for example crucial for both fields I studied: biotechnology and environmental sciences. In our Science cafe we show regularly diverse fields of science that are exciting to discover for the local society in Wageningen and beyond. Furthermore, I enjoy it a lot to be part of the diverse, inspiring and active Science Cafe Wageningen team.

Nick Warmelink (MSc student Forest and Nature Conservation)\

Though my first passion lies on the interface between people and nature, the Science cafe offers me and others a great place to be inspired by presentations and discussions on subjects that range beyond our comfort zone.
I really value the exposure to new, possibly alternative, views and ideas. Therefore, I’m happy with the Science Cafe sessions and all they provide for the Wageningen community. By being a part of the team I hope to learn a lot myself, whilst also making others enthousiastic for these interesting sessions.

Patrick Jansen (Associate professor Resource Ecology)

Science Cafe is a great initiative that offers people interested in science some insight in disciplines and themes that they are unfamiliar with. Science Cafe brings together people from a wide variety of disciplines, and gives everyone the opportunity to ask questions and participate in discussions. And this happens in a nice cafe, with live music and Wagenings Blond. A great addition to the activities in our little city, to which I am happy to contribute.

Pim Zabel (former associate professor Molecular Biology)

“A scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” (Max Planck, 1858-1947)